Gutierrez will replace Jean Yang, who was executive director of the state's health insurance exchange under former Democratic Governor Deval Patrick. Baker, a Republican, was widely expected to bring in his own appointee to head the organization, which has had a difficult year.

Baker also appointed Daniel Tsai, who has worked on developing Medicaid payment systems as a partner at the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, as the head of MassHealth. Baker elevated the job of MassHealth director, giving Tsai the title of assistant secretary to Health and Human Service Secretary Marylou Sudders.

The Health Connector oversaw the technological failure of the state's health insurance exchange website in late 2013. Since then, Patrick fired the state's technology contractor and hired new leadership. The new site, launched in November, has generally been working, with a few glitches, this year.

Gutierrez has worked for the last seven years for the information technology consulting firm Exeter Group. He served on the boards of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and the New England Health Exchange Network. He was chief information and technology officer for Harvard Pilgrim Health Care while Baker was leading that organization. He worked as the state's chief information officer for the Romney, Weld and Celluci administrations, and also spent time as an assistant secretary for administration and finance, according to a biography provided by the Baker administration.

"Rapidly evolving technology presents us every day with new opportunities and unique challenges to improve operations and services to our consumers - in this case, healthcare for the people of Massachusetts," Gutierrez said in a statement. He said he will work with Baker "to streamline access to healthcare for those needing coverage for themselves and their families."

Tsai designed and implemented Medicaid, Medicare and commercial payment systems while working for McKinsey. He has a degree in applied math and economics from Harvard.

"I believe deeply in the mission of MassHealth and the important services it provides for our most vulnerable populations," Tsai said in a prepared statement.